The following links and paragraphs give you very brief details for each of these towns and links to dedicated websites where they are available.

Mirepoix (10 mins)

Our nearest town, the focus of Mirepoix is its magnificent medieval square bordered with vast wooden columns topped with half timbered facades above arcaded shops. Market day is Monday, when the town square bustles with sellers of traditional fresh French produce.

Click here for our page on Mirepoix.

Foix (30 minutes)

Foix is the capital city of the Areige department and is dominated by its 15th century keep which stands on the sheer rock hundreds of feet above the town. The climb to the keep is worth it for the view alone! Visit on Friday to enjoy the town on market day with the typical French bustle.

Toulouse (1 hour)

Toulouse is the most important town in Southwest France, and the fourth largest city in France. It is the centre of the French Aerospace industry, working with BAe in Bristol to create Concorde, and playing a major part in the Arianne Space programme.

Toulouse has all of the attractions that you would expect to find in a city of its size ( and some that come as a surprise!):

• two magnificent cathedrals,
• a pretty old town built from the local rose hued bricks,
• a busy modern shopping area
• visits round the arianne space rockets in the space museum run by the European space agency
• tours round the Airbus factory building the latest aircraft
• a zoo
• countless museums

Languedoc Roussillon

Carcassonne Cité (45 minutes from us)

Described as one of the most unforgettable sites in Europe, and the inspiration for Walt Disneys Cinderella castle, Carcassonne Cité is the third most popular tourist attraction in France. As a consequence, it plays host to a large number of cafes, restaurants and gift shops, several museums, 'dungeon'-type tourist attractions and a good number of other tourists! There is no entry fee for the Cité itself, but car parking will cost €3 for the day.

There is an exhibition in the castle showing the rebuilding of the Cité, and a fantastic circular walk between the inner and outer walls of the ramparts which takes you almost all the way around the Cité.

Recommended restaurants are Le St-Jean, on Place St-Jean for good local meals at around £7, and further up the scale Le Comte Roger on Rue St-Louis provides a good 3 course set menu for around £14. Of the Dungeon attractions, the only one to be recommended is the Chateau Comtal at £3.50.

Carcassonne Cité is majestic from a distance, and most visitors find they spend about half a day in the Cité itself. It provides an unforgettable memory of the region.

Official Carcassonne website (in English and French)
Carcassonne Cité (in English and French)

Limoux (30 minutes)

Limoux is a pretty town famous for the sparkling 'Blanquette de Limoux' - a wine made using the same process as Champagne, Blanquette was made long before its more famous cousin and provides much better value!

See our Wine page for more details on Blanquette, and the Limoux site (French only) for more information about the town

Limoux holds its festival of Fécos every Sunday from January to March, where local artisans perform in differing costumes at 11am, 5pm and 10pm.

Limoux during the Summer local produce festival

Perpignan (90 minutes)

Perpignan is the vibrant capital of Roussillon, midway along the developing sunbelt on the Western coast of the Mediterranean. In a town which is still strongly Catalan, the Renaissance style Loge de Mer provides the centre of Perpignan life. Built in the 14th century, it now proudly holds its place at the head of the main square.

The Cathédrale de St-Jean, from the 15th century, is a good example of local architecture but tends to be a bit gloomy. Better is a visit to the Palais de Rois de Majorque, a massive fortified palace from the 13th century. Inside there is a great palace with two royal chapels, a great courtyard used for concerts, and well kept gardens with an excellent view to the Mediterranean.